Meditation
BY THE WILL OF GOD
Text: Ephesians 1; Galatians 1
21 March 2021
THE WILL OF GOD
The Apostle Paul wrote significantly about the Will of God. To him, God’s Will was not a philosophical idea at all. He experienced it in his life personally.
Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ,
By the will of God. Ephesians 1:1
- The original Apostles of Jesus Christ
a) The Lord Jesus spent all night in prayer Luke 6:12
b) He chose twelve whom He also named apostles Luke 6:13
c) He gave them power Matthew 10:1
- The replacement of Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve
Criteria employed:
a) The person must have been one of the early disciples who accompanied the Lord Jesus Acts 1:21-22
b) He must have seen the Lord Jesus to be a valid witness of the Risen Saviour Acts 1:22
FAILURE TO FULFIL THE REQUIREMENTS
Paul would have failed to fulfil the criteria established:
- He was not one of the original disciples of the Lord Jesus
- He was not called an appointed in the usual manner
APPLICATION OF THE WILL OF GOD
The Will of God would thus be very necessary to establish!
- It would not be because of his salvation experience
- It would not be because of the academic qualifications he possessed
- It would take the Will of God to see Paul appointed as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus
PAUL’S DEFENCE OF HIS CALLING AS AN APOSTLE
Here is a summary of Paul’s thoughts about the Will of God and his apostleship!
- It is not by the will of man Galatians 1:1a
- It came about through the Lord Jesus Galatians 1:b
- And this was, of course, approved by God Galatians 1:1c
- It was because of God’s grace
a) It pleased God to set apart Paul from his mother’s womb Galatians 1:15a
b) God then called him Galatians 1:15b
c) God revealed the Lord Jesus to Paul and in him Galatians 1:16
- The power of God given to all Apostles
a) This was evidenced
b) In signs, wonders and mighty deeds 2 Corinthians 12:12
The Will of God is a humbling doctrine to study. The Power of God would be vital evidence to prove His will!